Plunger assembly for fluid pressure operated pumps



N. H. RICKER Dec. 15, 1931.

PLUNGER ASSEMBLY FOR FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED PUMPS Filed April 16, 1929INVENTOR fr /r/A i A l Nunn :HHIH liv/IIA llllllllllllllll Il. l. 1 s

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ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE NORMAN H.RICXER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR T0 HUGHES TOOL COMPANY, OF HOUSTON,TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS PLUNGER ASSEMBLY FOR FLUID PRESSUREOPERATED PUMPS Application filed April 16, 1929. Serial No. 355,643.

My invention relates to pumps, whereby liquid may be raised from thewell by air or gas pressure.

In raising liquid in the eduction tube Aabove a plunger, by the use ofair pressure below the plunger, the speed of operation is somewhatretarded by the rictional losses in the passage o the liquid from thelower end of the eduction tube to the surface. The fric# tion of theliquid against the walls of the tube sets up eddy currents in the liquidwhich caus'e a turbulence, retarding the progress of the plunger and itsload.

It is an object of the invention to provide a plunger assembly whichreduces the frictional losses between the load of liquid and theeduction tube, thus speeding up the operation of the device.

I desire to reduce friction by separating the load of liquid from thewall of the eduction tube by a sectional extension upon the plunger. Iproduce, in effect, an elongated bucket above the plunger in which theload is contained, thus preventing thel rictional engagement of liquidupon the tube.

I further aim to move the load of liquid in the final step of itsprogress by the force of the air directly.

I also desire to provide novel means to stop the plunger at the upperend of its stroke without unnecessary ar or vibration.

Referring to the drawings herewith, Fig. 1 is a central longitudinalsection through a well pumping installation showing my inventiontherein.

Fig. 2 is a broken central longitudinal section through a. portion ofthe eduction tube with my plunger extension therein.

The well is normally set with a casing 1, which serves to retain thewalls of the well. A casing head 2 of special construction is secured tothe upper end of the casing. Said head has a lower inlet 3 for thepressure fluid and an outlet extension 4 adjacent the upper end, saidextension being connected to a container for storage, not shown` by apipe 5. The upper end of the casing head is closed by a bull plug, orcap 6.

Within the casing head and supported on a shoulder 7 therein, is anipple or block 8,

closing the passage through the head except for a central passage 9,which terminates in an upward extension 9 in the head, closed at itsextremity by a cap 10. The side walls of the extension 9 have lateralslotted openings 11 therein, to allow discharge of fluid to the outlet4. The cap 10 has a downwardly extending stop piston 12 thereon, thepurpose of which will later appear.

.The block or nipple 8 has two concentric pipes 13 and 14 threaded intoconnection with its lower end, said pipes being spaced apart to providea passage 15 between them. The inlet 3 leads to this passage and allowsthe pressure fluid to flow into said passage to the lower end of theinner pipe, which constitutes an eduction tube connecting with thepassage in the nipple 8.

Vithin the eduction tube is a plunger 16 having a downwardly convergingpassage 17 therethrough, said passage being closed by a valve 19 adaptedto open downwardly. Above the plunger 16 are a series of sectionalextensions 18 of said plunger. They are tubular sections withcomparatively thin walls and are sutlicient in number to contain theload of liquid to be elevated. I make the plunger extensions in shortenoughvsections to allow them to travel in a crooked well withoutbinding against the walls of the eduction When the load of liquid hasaccumulated above the plunger, the air pressure is turned into the welland enters the eduction tube below the plunger closing the valve andraising the plunger and its load. The sectional extension 18 will keepthe liquid from coming into contact with the wall of the tube and willprevent turbulence and excessive friction losses. The upper level ofliquid will contact with the stationary stop piston 12 which fitsloosely in the upper end of the plunger extension. This will tend t0stop the piston and its load without excessive shock and will cause theliquid to be forced laterally7 toward the outlet chamber 4. The shock ofcontact with the stop piston will open the plunger valve and the airwill issue through the liquid and force it out the discharge pipe 5after which theair will exhaust and the plunger therewith in the mannerGob will drop to the bottom again. The plunger will come to rest uponthe seat 22 in the eduction tube, and "w the fluid pressure ac- Y'r"1nulates below` the swab suiiiciently, the 1, will be forced to closedposition, and the will again be moved upwardly with its et' liquid..

nay secure the sections 18 flexibly together, if desired, and in Fig. 2-I have shou'n one means oi. doing so. A chain 20 is secured to staples21 in adjacent sections thus holdingl said sections together, butallowing the ilexibility which is necessary in passing curved places inthe eduction tube.

The advantages of this construction lies in the increased speed ofoperation in raising the load of liquid. Very little frictionalresistance is encountered due to the elimination of eddy currents in theliquid.

That I claim as new is:

l. In an air lift device, including an eduction tube, having an outletat its upper end, and a plunger in said tube, the combination ofsectional, tubular extensions above said r plunger to contain the loadof liquid to be lifted.

2. In an air lift device including an eduction tube. having an outlet atits upper end, and a plunger in said tube, the combination ot' aplurality of tubular sections fitting Within said tube above saidplunger, and movable described.

- 3. A plunger for air lift devices adapted to fit within an eductiontube, and a plurality of tubular extensions above said plunger to movewith and contain the load of liquid handled by said plunger.

4. An eduction tube for air lift devices, in l combination with aplunger freely movable therein, and means above said plunger to maintainthe load of liquid above said plunger out of contact with the walls ofsaid tube.

5. An eduction tube for air lift devices, in combination with a plungerfreely movable therein, and means above said plunger, and movable withsaid plunger, to maintain the load ot liquid above said plunger out ofcontact with the walls of said tube.

6. In an air lift device, tion tube, having an outlet at its upper endand a plunger freely movable in said tube, the combination of a tubularextension above said plunger to contain the load of liquid to be raisedby said plunger.

'i'. In an air lift device, including an eduction tube, having an outletat its upper end. and plunger freely movable in said tube, thecombination of a tubular extension above said plunger to contain theload of liquid t0 e raised by said plunger, and means in said tube tocontact with said load when it reaches said outlet, for the purposestated.

l. In an airlift device, including an eductiontube, having an outlet atits upper end, and a plunger freely movable in said tube,

including an educthe combination of a tubular extension above saidplunger to contain the load of liquid to be raised by said plunger, anda stationary piston at the upper end of said eduction tube to Contactwith. the liquid raised by sai plunger when said load reaches saidoutlet.

9. In an air lift device, includin an eduction tube and plunger in saidtu e, a plurality of tubular upward extensions on said plunger and meansto secure said extensions flexibly together.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature this 12th day ofApril A. D. 1929.

NORMAN H. RICKER.

